Module Details

BE337-6-AU-CO: International Finance

Note: This module is inactive. Visit the Module Directory to view modules and variants offered during the current academic year.

Year: 2016/17
Department: Essex Business School
Essex credit: 15
ECTS credit: 7.5
Available to Study Abroad / Exchange Students: No
Full Year Module Available to Study Abroad / Exchange Students for a Single Term: No
Outside Option: No

Staff

Supervisor:

Dr Ourania Dimitraki

Teaching Staff:

Dr Ourania Dimitraki

Contact details:

Emma Aldridge - Undergraduate Administrator
enich@essex.ac.uk

Module is taught during the following terms

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Module Description

This module is designed to introduce students to the concepts of international finance and to develop an in-depth understanding of the international financial environment and how it affects businesses in the short and the long term. The module focuses on three broad and interrelated conceptual issues: a) international markets and institutions; b) international risk management; c) management and measurement of foreign exchange exposure, and sources of capital available to businesses. In particular, it examines issues such as history of the international monetary system, international financial markets and banking, foreign exchange market and foreign currency derivatives, transaction, translation and operation exposure, sources of international capital available to large businesses and small entrepreneurial firms. The module introduces the two main functions of the foreign exchange market, namely, conversation of foreign currency and insuring against foreign exchange risk. The module provides a basis for a critical understanding of the theoretical concepts, systems and functions of the international financial markets, institutions and financial risk management.

The course seeks to enable students to acquire an understanding of the international financial markets, institutions and source of international finance available to businesses that are applied to the study of different aspects of international enterprise and business development. The module aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to carry out a business report supported by critical understanding of the financial markets, institutions and financial risk management in the context of the international business environment.

Learning and Teaching Methods

The following learning and teaching methods will inform the pedagogic structure of the course:

Lectures:
The lectures will be developed around the key concepts as mentioned in the indicative module content and will use a range of live examples and cases from business practice to demonstrate the application of theoretical concepts. The lectures will follow a weekly format of 1 hour per week for 9 weeks in the autumn term.

Seminars:
Seminars in the form of class exercises will be built into the lectures to develop critical analytical and problem solving skills. Seminars will use a range of activities, such as discussion of case studies from the core text, topical business news items and will involve students working in pairs or groups or individually to discuss, reflect on problems and answer questions, present their ideas and thoughts to the class for discussion. Cases are sourced primarily from the European Case Clearing House (ECCH), Harvard Business Cases, FT Reports and other international case banks to encourage students to analyse issues pertaining to the course.

Assessment

50 per cent Coursework Mark, 50 per cent Exam Mark

Coursework

Individual Business Report - 50%

Exam Duration and Period

2:00 during Summer Examination period.

Bibliography

There are two alternative recommended textbooks for the course, at least one of which students should purchase as the base of their reading material: